Published 4:00 am, Thursday, August 28, 2008

A portion of San Francisco's streets from the Bayview to Chinatown will close to cars for four hours on Sunday and instead be filled with bicyclists, break-dancers and roller skaters.

The city's first Sunday Streets event has gained support from community groups and athletic organizations that are planning activities along the 4.5-mile route, but merchants at Fisherman's Wharf are still wary of the impact on their businesses.

The street closures will start at 9 a.m. and last until 1 p.m. During that time, the groups and organizations will host an array of activities, including cultural events and athletic and aerobic exercises. AT&T Park also will open for people to run the bases for part of the day.

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"San Francisco residents and visitors alike can come out and enjoy San Francisco like it has never been enjoyed before," said Wade Crowfoot, director of climate protection programs for Mayor Gavin Newsom. Another closure is planned for Sept. 14.

Crowfoot said the event will be an opportunity for people to explore noncar transportation alternatives as well as portions of the city they might not otherwise visit. There will be 22 places along the route where car traffic can cross, and people can ride the Muni F and T lines for free from 8 a.m. till 2 p.m., Crowfoot said.

Merchants at Pier 39, however, are worried that closing a major thoroughfare on a busy three-day weekend will cost them business. Businesses will be tracking sales and comparing them to last weekend, said Bob MacIntosh, president and CEO of Pier 39.

"If our business improves, I will be more than happy to admit it. If it doesn't, I'll let everyone know," said MacIntosh, who said he expects sales to be down. He said merchants are not against the idea of a street closure, but do not want it in the middle of their busiest season.

The closure of the Embarcadero ends just after the Ferry Building, about a mile from Pier 39, but MacIntosh thinks the closure will make it more difficult for people to get there.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, typically a Newsom ally, said the mayor did not do enough community outreach before launching his plan.

Alioto-Pier predicted that the event would be a hit, but "with that lack of conversation (the closure) just doesn't make any sense."